Match-safe



(No Modell) P. A. BUTLER. -MATGH SAFE.

No. 582,775. Patented May 18, 1897.

WTNESSES:

unica.

PATT'NT FRANK A. BUTLER, OF BROOKLYN, NET YORK.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,775, dated May 18, 189'?.

Application filed January 9, 1896. Serial No. 574,789. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BUTLER, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Match-Safes, of which the following is a specification.

My improved box provides a means whereby matches may be so packed for transportation and sale that when used the box itself will constitute an efficient safe that can be readily hung in position and from which the matches can be easily removed. The box is adapted after the original contents have been used to receive an additional charge either in the form of loose matches or in the tray of an ordinary match-box, which tray with its matches can be bodily introduced into position.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front view illustrating the further use of my invention after the original charge of matches has been removed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the box illustrated in Fig. l, the cover, however, being raised. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a modiiied form of box. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the act of removing the thin paper face from a box of matches embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Although the construction disclosed in the first three figures illustrates the further use of a box embodying my improvements, they at the same time exhibit the invention in a primary or incomplete stage and will therefore be iirst described.

A is the body of the box,` which serves as a safe, made of thin sheet metal. It may be tinned iron, japanned. Its depth is a little greater than the length of the ordinary shallow boxes in which what are commonly known as parlor matches are purchased. I adapt it to be hung on the wall. The open top is guarded bya cover B, connected bya hinge C.

To insert the matches,the safe is taken down from the wall and held in a horizontal position, and the cover and the paper shield on the top of the ordinary inner box being removed the box is slid with its contents into the safe, the matches being presented front ward against the interior of the front face.

The matches are removed through a T- shaped aperture ca d', produced by dies or otherwise in the front. The upright portion@ extends quite to the bottom of the safe. The horizontal portion a at the top is of a length a little less than that of a short match. The width of the part d of the aperture should be about an inch. The width of the upright portion a is sufficient to allow the end of the thumb to be inserted or partiallly inserted sufficiently to seize a match. On raising it to the crosspart d it is easily drawn forward and liberated.

The safe by showing the matches as they extend across the aperture a calls attention to the fact whenever the stock is getting low. It facilitates the taking of a single match. Theintroduction of the matches into the safe is easier than with the ordinary forms.

I make the safe sufficiently large to allow the introduction of the fiat box in which parlor matches are usually sold. D is the box so introduced, and E are the matches therein. The matches may lie crosswise of the upright slot a and are reliably retained and may be easily removed one by one as required. A sufiicient aperture a2 is made in the upper portion of the back to allow the safe with its contents to be conveniently engaged upon any suitable hook in the wall.

By rounding the end edges of the slot a. I avoid angles, which would have a tendency to catch the match-heads and thus interfere with the safe and ready withdrawal of the matches. so engaged ignition would result with obvious consequences.

Instead of extending the back above the hinge of the cover it may stop at the level of such hinge, and the safe may be suspended by means of a hole punched in the back below the hinge. Fig. 3 shows such modification.

For transportation and sale my invention provides a commercial package comprising the box or safe which I have described, having a slight cover of paper over the aperture in the front, matches being stored in the box. Figure 4 shows one of my packages in the act of having the thin paper front removed. In this case the original charge of matches will rsf Of course if a head should become IOO be introduced into the box at the factory and will be securely retained for sale and use.

I claim as my invention- The Within-described improved article of 5 manufacture, the same com prising the box having a hinged top cover and suspending provision ,and containing a charge of matches, the front plate of said box being provided with a T- shaped aperture formed by the 1onxo gitudinal and transverse slots af, af', together with a cover or shield of paper secured on said plate to close the slots, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aix my signature in presl5 ence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. BUTLER.

XVitnesses:

J. B. CLAUTICE, M. F. BOYLE. 

